In many countries, an increase in crime has been blamed on violent images on TV and computer and video games. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

In any society, crime is always a real problem to deal with. Nowadays, although we are living in a modern world, crime rate does not seem to be lower than in the past. In some countries, at some given time, crime has proven an upward trend. There are many reasons for this, but I believe that violent images on TV and computer and video games , in some ways, have contributed considerably to this increase.

First of all, violent images help to increase the number of young offenders. Young people are more easily influenced than the others because of their lack of knowledges and living experiences. They tend to be more curious and often want to experience what they think or what they see. Violent images, therefore, in certain ways, could lead young people to actual actions rather than what they do when playing games. For example, in my country, recently has witnessed several murders committed by secondary pupils who are obsessed by killing scenes in a widely played game – Half Life.

Second of all, violent computer or video games indirectly shape criminals in their offensive actions. Many researches have pointed out that watching or playing too much violent games can lead to players becoming more aggressive. Players seem to imitate actions in games, and, at some time, their loss of self-control can result in some crimes committed. For example, the mass murder at a school in the US in 2007 was committed by a student who finally admitted that his action was motivated by violent scenes in action movies.

On the other hand, violent images are not the only factor contributing to the increase in crime. In many developing and underdeveloped countries, the high crime rate is usually caused by some other reasons such as poverty or political unstability. For example, it is often said that the current unstable condition in Afganistan is the primary cause of burglaries, robberies, and murders being committed everyday in this country.

In conclusion, the increase in crime rate in some countries is caused by many factors, not only the violent images on TV and computer and video games. However, in this modern world where violent computer games are present more and more in everywhere, contribution of violent images to higher crime rate cannot be denied.

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